Federal Election 2022 pre-poll voting starts in Bundaberg, Hervey Bay

An exit poll of voters at Bundaberg and Hervey Bay’s pre-poll booths has revealed some surprising developments in early support for Hinkler’s six candidates. SEE THE RESULTS

Early Hinkler voters have so far thrown their support behind incumbent LNP candidate Keith Pitt with an exit poll revealing he was the first choice on half the ballots cast on day one.

A NewsCorp exit poll at Hinkler pre-poll booths in Bundaberg and Hervey Bay – where 200 locals were asked how they voted on Monday, revealed Mr Pitt was the popular choice, well clear of Labor’s Jason Scanes and Independent and Bundaberg council mayor Jack Dempsey.

Mr Scanes was the top choice for 18.6 per cent of the surveyed voters while Mr Dempsey was at 14.7 per cent.

Support for the Greens candidate Andrew McLean and the United Australia Party’s Kristie Nash was at 5.8 per cent across the surveyed booths.

The big change was for One Nation, whose candidate Zak Menhennett received 4.9 per cent support on the first day of pre-polling.

More than 4000 voters turned out to booths across the Hinkler electorate on Monday, the first day of pre-polling. This was 1000 more people than voted on the first day possible at the 2019 election.

While it is early days with more than a week and tens of thousands of votes still yet to be cast, if the trend holds it would be a significant drop for Pauline Hanson’s conservative party which received 13.7 per cent of the first preference pre-poll vote in 2019.

Mr Pitt would be the big winner in that scenario, up six percentage points from his 44 per cent first preference pre-poll support in 2019.

An exit poll of Hinkler pre-poll booths on Monday revealed one in two voters surveyed had made incumbent LNP candidate Keith Pitt their top preference on the ballot. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

His strongest support on opening day was at Hervey Bay’s Totness St booth, where 56 per cent of surveyed respondents said they put the LNP candidate first.

The busiest time of the day at the Totness Street booth was in the morning with lines extending into the car park.

In total, 4395 voters turned out at Hinkler’s pre-poll booths on Monday, more than 1000 higher than first day attendees in 2019.

Bundaberg councillor Steve Cooper was handing out flyers for Independent Jack Dempsey, who took leave from his role as Bundaberg Mayor to run for the federal election.

Bundaberg Regional Council Division 8 councillor Steve Cooper hands out flyers supporting Jack Dempsey in his federal election race.

While Mr Pitt and Mr Dempsey (who was in Hervey Bay and visited that booth) were missing from Bundaberg pre-poll booths, United Australia Party candidate Kristie Nash, Labor candidate Jason Scanes and Greens candidate Andrew McLean made a morning appearance.

Independent candidate Jack Dempsey handing out voting cards at the Totness Street booth in Hervey Bay.

One Nation candidate Zak Menhennett and his volunteers didn’t appear at either booth until after midday, setting up signs well after doors opened.

The NewsMail conducted an exit poll at both the Electra Street and Maryborough Street polling booths, asking 50 voters at each booth who they had given their first preference to.

Out of the 100 people surveyed, almost half said they had given their preference to the LNP candidate Keith Pitt (46 per cent), while Labor candidate Jason Scanes followed in second place (19 per cent) and Independent candidate Jack Dempsey in third with 14 per cent.

Minor parties did not receive as much support, with UAP candidate Kristie Nash getting 9 per cent of the vote in the exit poll, Greens candidate Andrew McLean 7 per cent and One Nation candidate Mr Menhennett 5 per cent.

Voter Pam Murray said the State Labor Government’s handling of the housing crisis influenced her choice to vote for the LNP.

“They’ve done nothing to help the housing crisis at a state level, so how can we trust them at a federal level?” she said.

“My mother was severely impacted by housing, and so many people are living in tents in parks.

“If Labor were voted into the federal seat, how can we be sure the housing crisis won’t get any worse.”

The Electra Street booth favoured the LNP, while Maryborough Street voting showed a more even distribution.

The Electra Street booth received 54 per cent of votes in favour of the Coalition, while Labor received 18 per cent.

Labor candidate for Hinkler Jason Scanes greets one of his volunteers at the Maryborough Street booth in Bundaberg.

Fourteen per cent of the vote was in favour of the Independent, while One Nation held 1.5 per cent of the vote and the UAP and the Greens both received just 1 per cent.

The Maryborough Street booth showed a much closer margin, with the LNP racking up 38 per cent of the vote and Labor receiving 20 per cent.

The independent and UAP candidates both received 14 per cent of votes at the booth, while the Greens scored higher at this location with 10 per cent and just 4 per cent for One Nation.

While the results gave some indication of a favourite preference among voters, the under 40s were strongly under-represented, with most voters appearing to be older.